(March 2013) In an effort to prevent tragedies caused by impaired driving, the New York State Police will initiate special traffic enforcement efforts during the St. Patrick’s Day weekend.
The effort will begin on Friday, March 15, 2013 and run through Sunday, March 17, 2013.
Drivers can expect a number of sobriety checkpoints, additional DWI patrols and underage drinking and sales to minors details during the campaign.
“We are starting our enforcement St. Patrick’s Day weekend with full knowledge there will be numerous parties and events where alcohol may be consumed, and we are asking everyone who drinks to designate a driver or arrange safe transportation in advance,” said New York State Police Superintendent Joseph D’Amico.
Last year during the St. Patrick’s Day weekend enforcement effort, troopers made 503 arrests for DWI, and issued a total of 11,663 tickets.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that more than 700 people were killed nationwide in crashes involving drunk drivers during St. Patrick’s Day holidays from 2006 to 2010.
On average, every 51 minutes a person is killed in a drunk-driving crash in the United States and the majority of these crashes involve drivers who have blood alcohol concentrations almost twice legal limit of .08 percent.